271 motorists cited for not buckling up

Monday

Mar 25, 2013 at 12:48 PMMar 25, 2013 at 1:10 PM

Officers from six police departments and Delaware State Police recently cited 271 people for not buckling up at night during the first seat belt enforcement campaign of 2013. The next campaign is scheduled for May.

Staff Reports

Officers from six police departments and Delaware State Police recently cited 271 people for not buckling up at night during the first seat belt enforcement campaign of 2013.

Officers worked 421 hours of overtime enforcement looking for drivers and passengers who had not used their seat belts, Delaware Office of Highway Safety spokeswoman Alison Kirk said.

Delaware law requires drivers and all passengers, including those in the back seat, to wear a seat belt, Kirk said. The lap and shoulder belts must be worn and shoulder belts must not be placed behind the back or under the arm.

An officer can pull over a driver if they see any person in the vehicle not wearing a seat belt, even if there is no other violation, she said. The next wave of seat belt enforcement will be part of the Click It or Ticket campaign in May.

During the seatbelt enforcement period, officers statewide also arrested one person for DUI, issued 73 cell phone citations and cited another 96 drivers for speeding, Kirk said. Additionally, officers issued 13 citations to drivers for child restraint violations, apprehended 18 wanted persons, made five drug arrests and issued 239 citations for a variety of other traffic violations, she said.

For more information on seat belt enforcement results and a look at updated campaign materials, please visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, like the Office of Highway Safety on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE or follow them on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe.